Improvement in jumping toys



e. Bowman.

.I'UIWIPYIIN'G TOYS.

No.18 8, 461. mma March 20,1877.

MPEfE-RS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C legs I) I) are made to resemble a to a res 0, preferably in the form of a flat 'riEs GEORGE BOERINGER, OF ST. LOUIS,

HIS RIGHT TO GODFREY H.

IMPROVEMENT IN JUMPING TOYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,461,

dated March 20, 1877; application filed October 25, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BOERINGER, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a Toy Grasshopper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, in which Figure l is an elevation, showing the grasshopper at rest; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; and Fig. 3, an elevation, showing the grasshopper in the act of jumping.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

My aim is to furnish an attractive plaything, and one that can be readily made.

Referring to the annexed drawing, a represents the body of the grasshopper, and b b its hind legs. suitable material, like wood, and in shape similar to that shown in the drawing. The

The body can be made of any grasshoppers legs, and are of a springy material, such as brass wire. To increase their elasticity I preferably introduce a coil, 11 I), at the upper joint of the legs.

In operation, the grasshopper is attached strip whose length is nearly that of the body a, and whose Width is suflicient to sustain the insect, and in the following manner: The lower ends b b of the legs I) b are slightly hooked in form, and are passed over the front end of the rest 0. .The body a'is then drawn back far enough for a shoulder, a, with which the body on its under side is provided, to catch against the rear end of the rest 0. The legs I) b are so bent as to be sharply compressed when the insect is attached to the rest. The latter, at its rear end 0, is preferably beveled on its under side. The insect is now, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, ready to jump. This is effected by dislodging the shoulder a/ from the rest 0. This can be done in different ways, but, preferably, by rocking the rest uponthe bevel 0 far enough for the rear end of the body a to encounter resistance, when the spring-legs b b act to throw the insect vigorously forward, in manner similar to the flight of the natural grasshopper.

What 1 claim is- 1. The herein-described toy grasshopper, consisting of the body a and legs 11 1), arranged to operate in connection with the rest 0, substantially as described.-

2. As a new article of manufacture, a toy grasshopper, consisting of the body a and thelegs I) b, provided with the hooks b b, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the shoulder a, the legs I) I), having the coils b b and hooks b b, and the rest 0, having the beveled end 0, substantially as described.

GEOR'GE BOERINGER.

the body a,having Witnesses CHAS. D. MOODY, PAUL BAKEWELL.

TENT ()rrron. 

